This is a book about the Scopes Trial to some extent and the cultural background history behind opposition to the theory of evolution by religious people.
According to the book to the common believeing person evolution was against the plain teachings of the Bible on the origins of life and man but to others not so heavenly minded it was felt in their best interest to oppose it because of their fear of communism. The book goes on and on about various creationist leaders opposition to communism but doesnt go into detail about why communism had anything to do with evolution, at least as far in the book yet . I'm about half way through this book and I think I know why from other books I've read. More below.
First, as an aside, I have had a lot of regular joe people in real life and on the net tell me they didnt think it really matters if evolution were the case. what happened in the past really has no bearing today. They believed in creationism but went on about how we need creationism to be true to have morals, order and so forth regardless of what happened in the past that really has no day to day affect on us anymore
Second a few years ago I did a self study of the major works of Karl Marx, Engels, Belford Bax, Deitzgen, Bebel, ect . In one of these works one of the authors rejoiced in the theory of evolution because it showed things changed in the natural world and often for the better. The theory of evolution could be used to explain to mistreated and exploited people things can change for them if they changed themselves and enviroment. Now I can understand why so many in leadership would have wanted creationism to prevail, at least to most in the general public mind. It was perceived as a potential source of breakdown in the social order they were on top of or benefitted from. The communists and other reform minded groups were using the theory of evolution not as a survival of the fittest doctrine but more as make yourself more fit by changing your thought patterns and environments. This was not tolerable to those with vested in interests in how things were then and evolution had to be opposed for that reason and not just religious reasons, though they used the cover of religion to do so.
In going to keep reading Red Dynamite and sees how this plays out in it.
According to the book to the common believeing person evolution was against the plain teachings of the Bible on the origins of life and man but to others not so heavenly minded it was felt in their best interest to oppose it because of their fear of communism. The book goes on and on about various creationist leaders opposition to communism but doesnt go into detail about why communism had anything to do with evolution, at least as far in the book yet . I'm about half way through this book and I think I know why from other books I've read. More below.
First, as an aside, I have had a lot of regular joe people in real life and on the net tell me they didnt think it really matters if evolution were the case. what happened in the past really has no bearing today. They believed in creationism but went on about how we need creationism to be true to have morals, order and so forth regardless of what happened in the past that really has no day to day affect on us anymore
Second a few years ago I did a self study of the major works of Karl Marx, Engels, Belford Bax, Deitzgen, Bebel, ect . In one of these works one of the authors rejoiced in the theory of evolution because it showed things changed in the natural world and often for the better. The theory of evolution could be used to explain to mistreated and exploited people things can change for them if they changed themselves and enviroment. Now I can understand why so many in leadership would have wanted creationism to prevail, at least to most in the general public mind. It was perceived as a potential source of breakdown in the social order they were on top of or benefitted from. The communists and other reform minded groups were using the theory of evolution not as a survival of the fittest doctrine but more as make yourself more fit by changing your thought patterns and environments. This was not tolerable to those with vested in interests in how things were then and evolution had to be opposed for that reason and not just religious reasons, though they used the cover of religion to do so.
In going to keep reading Red Dynamite and sees how this plays out in it.
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